Practices and initiatives in education that aim to combat intolerance against Muslims

Educational practices and initiatives, submitted by government officials, educational institutions, intergovernmental agencies and NGOs, related to the primary and secondary level schooling sectors, in addition to teacher training institutions. The practices and initiatives also include informal educational activities conducted by non-governmental organizations.

Summary: The project has been developed in response to the lack of programmes to assist children and youth in developing culturally-sensitive means of conflict resolution in order to avoid racially-motivated incidents or hate crimes. It seeks to develop for children and youth specific resources and programmes that will enable them to develop non-violent responses ..... to racially or ethnically motivated conflicts so as to avoid further provocation. For this purpose, anti-racism and anti-Islamophobia resource kits and workshops focus on promoting an inclusive model of multiculturalism and citizenship and developing tolerance and greater cross-cultural understanding among children and youth.

The project involves an activity with a colour poster showing women, men and children of different racial backgrounds, with some (but not all) of the women wearing hijab, and engaged in various activities and roles. The roles include those of police officer, doctor, musician, school bus driver, man cooking in the kitchen, woman and girl playing sports, and film director. The caption on the poster reads: "Who Am I?" Students are first asked to identify those who are "Canadian". In most instances, blonde-haired and fair-skinned people are identified (even in multi-ethnic classrooms) as being "Canadian". Students are then asked to identify the "Muslims". In most cases, it is the darker skinned people or women wearing hijab. Finally, it is revealed that everyone in the picture is both Canadian and Muslim. This activity allows to critically examine, reframe and expand the boundaries that define "Us" and "the Others".

Aim:

through public education targeted at children and youth, to proactively address the current widespread incidents of discrimination, harassment, hate crimes and racial profiling directed against Arab, South Asian, Afghani and Muslim Canadians as the result of the September 11 tragedy,

to assist educators in the execution of their responsibilities, to provide policy advice and information on the Islamic faith,

to deal with issues impacting Muslim students and families, provide support to Muslim parents and students, provide support to Islamic schools and other Islamic Centers.

Summary: Many ASPnet schools participate in projects on Euro-Arab dialogue organized in close cooperation with European (Germany, Sweden, Slovenia, among others) and Arab (United Arab Emirates, Oman for instance) states, National Commissions for UNESCO or NGOs.

Projects such as the initiative "Connecting Cultures" designed to bring young people from the ..... United Kingdom, Jordan, Oman and other countries together, enhance cultural awareness and promote mutual and environmental understanding. The Swedish NGO Life-Link, financed by SIDA, promotes Euro-Arab dialogue through the experimentation of learning materials on water and culture of peace.

Education for Sustainable Development is on the agenda of these Euro-Arab dialogue initiatives as seen in the ASPnet workshop on: "Learning about Sustainability in a World of Cultural Diversity - Taking Responsibility for the Future, A Workshop for Students from Arab and European UNESCO Associated Schools", organized by the National Commissions of Germany and Oman for UNESCO in Barka, Oman, 7-13 November 2008.

Development of normative instruments, guidelines, tools
- UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960) - Integrated Framework of Action on Education for Peace, Human Rights and Democracy (1995) - UNESCO Recommendation concerning Education for International Understanding, Co-operation and Peace and Education relating to Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1974) - The Rabat Commitment: Recommendations from the Rabat Conference on Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations through Concrete and Sustained Initiatives (2005) - UNESCO Guidelines on Intercultural Education (2006) - "Learning to Live Together: An Intercultural and Interfaith Programme for Ethics Education" (2008)

Aim: Countering intolerance and discrimination through the work on intercultural education and the promotion of intercultural dialogue.

Summary: In 2006 UNESCO Chairs and UNITWIN Network on Inter-Religious Dialogue for Intercultural understanding were established in various countries and cultural regions. This network serves as a virtual community of practice on intercultural and interreligious dialogue. It will be a forum for exchanges of best practices between academics and practitioners.

Summary: Multiethnic groups of young people from Vojvodina, Serbia, participate in workshops dealing with various post conflict reconciliation issues, including the Srebrenica massacre and anti-Muslim prejudice, and selected groups were taken to Srebrenica for interactive seminars with their Muslim and Serb peers in the town of the first genocide in Europe after ..... the WWII.

Aim: The initiative aims at dispelling bias about Muslims indirectly imposed on students through educational system and mainstream elites, clarifying the issue of accountability for war crimes, combating the denial of the Srebrenica genocide and establishing close ties among young people from different ethnicities.

Target group: Young people (ages 17 - 25 approx.) from the multiethnic province of Vojvodina and their Muslim and Serb peer from Srebrenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina.Keywords: Young regional elites capable of addressing the past and the present alike.

'In the World of Islam' - the project of interactive workshops for students and teachers of the secondary schools

Country: PolandCategory: Teaching and learning practices and tools ; Professional development

Summary: Interactive workshops for 900 secondary school students devoted to history, culture, religion and contemporary life of Arab and Muslim countries conducted in years 2005-2008. A workshop for Polish teachers (2008) and an international workshop for the teachers from Baltic Sea countries (2009) devoted to ways and methods of teaching multicultural issues ..... at school aiming at challenging stereotypes and modifying attitudes and building tolerance towards Muslims. Two publications of didactic materials for Polish teachers (2007) and in English (2009) for teachers from the Baltic Sea countries, consisting of 21 thematic modules on the Arab and Muslim countries ready to use in classroom activities.

Aim: To change or modify through education the negative cultural and religious stereotypes in thinking about the Arab and Muslim countries, to help students and teachers expand their knowledge and develop their multicultural skills, to help the school system get prepared to receiving the Muslim immigrants coming to our country, to build bridges between people of different cultural and religious background.

Summary: The Explore Islam Exhibition begins with a brief animation video explaining the origins of Islam. After that children dress in ihrams and hijabs, and play act the pilgrimage in Mecca. A Muslim family room brings them back home, with games, activities, writing names in Arabic letters, seeing the Quran and learning how to pray as well as the chance to ..... dress up. Finally, they have the opportunity for refreshments including authentic Asian and Arabic sweets. Throughout their time at the exhibition, children are encouraged to ask questions concerning Muslims and Islam.

Aim: The exhibitions aim to dispel negative myths and stereotypes about Islam by tackling them in a safe and enjoyable manner through interaction with the local community. It enhances and extends the experience gained in the classroom for hundreds of Staffordshire children each year, many of whom have never met Muslims.

Summary: Within the framework of its Programme for the Promotion of Intercultural Education and Dialogue, UNESCO assisted in the planning and implementation of two inter-regional textbook revision programmes: 1) The Revision of Textbooks Project and 2) Comparative Studies on School Textbooks. Each focuses on increased mutual understanding through accurate information ..... and views of "the other" in history and social studies textbooks and media of Europe and the Arab States.

The primary purpose of the Guidelines is to support the development and selection of innovative and effective textbooks and other learning resources in order to improve the quality of education in all regions of the world. Comparative Studies on School Textbooks is part of an initiative by the French and Moroccan National Commissions for UNESCO.

In cooperation with the Moroccan Commission, the French Commission carried out a series of comparative studies on school textbooks. Experts from Germany, Egypt, France, Hungary, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Poland, Slovenia, Switzerland, Tunisia and Turkey as well as ALECSO, Council of Europe and UNESCO attended the launch meeting in June 2005.

Aim: To promote mutual understanding though accurate information and views of “the other” in history and social studies.

Combating Islamophobia in multicultural kindergarten classrooms through the use of persona dolls

Implementing organization: University of Thessaly, Department of Early Childhood EducationCountry: GreeceCategory: Teaching and learning practices and tools

Summary: The religion and the culture of Islam is introduced to kindergarten pupils through the stories of "Aise", the persona doll of a 5 years old Muslim girl who lives in a village of north-eastern Greece and belongs to the Muslim Minority population of Greece. Through the narratives of Aise the kindergarten pupils learn about Islam, find common points with ..... other religions and cultures and discuss issues of discriminations against people of religious and other minorities. Implemented in Kindergartens in three different regions of Greece (Dimarion, Volos andAthens).

Aim: The aim is the teaching and learning about Islam in kindergarten classrooms in order to combat islamophobia and religious discriminations and to raise awareness of the importance of equality and social justice.

Summary: "This is Where I Need to Be: Oral Histories of Muslim Youth in NYC" is the first-ever volume of oral history narratives told to and authored by Muslim American teenagers. The book includes a curriculum guide for teachers and a companion website. The curriculum guide features five lesson plans and sets of reproducible items that can be taught over the ..... course of one or two sessions, a semester or an entire year. The website provides additional print, web, and literary resources, as well as an oral history primer with suggestions on how to incorporate this form of storytelling and historical research into the school curriculum.

Aim: The aim of the initiative is to raise critical awareness of and inform best practices for educational policy makers, school administrators, classroom teachers, and community-based NGOs in regard to the complex factors that shape identity, religiosity and civic belonging of Muslim youth in American public schools.

Summary: The project consists of workshops carried out in over 20 schools Poland-wide. Each workshop takes 6 hours and consists of two parts - discussion part, and also essential practical part. In the latter students learn how to write in Arabic their names, listen to traditional and contemporary music from Arab and Muslim countries, familiarize themselves ..... with various items from Muslim countries trying to guess what are they used for, have a possibility to dress traditional clothes from Muslim countries, and finally drink together Arabic tee. The language is Polish, however in April 2009 workshop in English for educators from Baltic states will be held.

Aim: To decrease the psychological distance towards Muslims through making the students familiar with their culture and show the diversity of the world of Islam.

Summary: This is a training course (in three separate projects), addressing knowledge, skills and attitudes required for:
1) understanding the notion of identity and culture, and the nature of prejudices and conflicts;
2) intercultural dialogue activities with and through young people;
3) using language as a tool of communication (Turkish and English ..... language classes)
4) promoting direct and indirect (using internet) exchange between young people from Turkey/Morocco/Russia and other European countries.
Each course (3 weeks) takes place in the country concerned (in cities Istanbul, Rabat, Moscow), has 3 hours/day of specific language training, 4 hours/day of thematic workshops (identity, culture, discrimination, racism, prejudice etc.) plus social or cultural programme every evening and week-ends. Young people live, work and enjoy themselves together.

Aim:
1) Training of youth multipliers in intercultural and inter-religious communication skills;
2) Awareness-rising about the Council of Europe and its values disseminated among Turkish/Arabic/Russian and especially European youth;
3) Promoting interaction with young people from Turkish or Arabic immigrant community in their own countries;
4) Sensitizing young civil servants and youth social workers about the mentality, culture and language of Turkey/Morocco, Russia which and
5) Supporting them in managing projects more effectively with NGOs and various institutions from these countries.

Level of implementation: All Council of Europe member States, Belarus and Morocco.

Religion and plurality in Swedish school, 30 ECTS credits with a special focus on Islam and Muslims in the Swedish school, 15 ECTS credits

Implementing organization: Södertörn University, department of the Study of ReligionsCountry: SwedenCategory: Professional development

Summary: The Department of the Study of Religions at Södertörn University provides education course about Islam for teachers in the obligatory school system. The course includes both theoretical knowledge about Islam and the situation of Muslim pupils in schools, but also discussions on real classroom situations. It runs as a half time course and it is possible ..... to attend it from distance through the Internet.

Aim: To educate teachers who meet Muslim pupils (and parents) in their daily work so that they threat them equally as all other pupils in the Swedish school system. To make the teachers aware of their own prejudices as well as those are present in society, schools and teaching materials.

Target group: School teachersKeywords: further education, Islamic studies, Study of religions, school practices

1001 Ideas: Muslim Cultures and History

Implementing organization: Georg Eckert Institute for International Textbook Research (GEI)Collaborating organization: The ministries of education of the German states, teacher training institutes in Germany and Switzerland, Paedagogische Hochschule (Vienna), Fachdidaktisches Zentrum, University of Vienna, The Aga Khan Foundation, The Ismaili Institute (London), The Aga Khan University/Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations (London)

Summary: Since 2006, the 1001 Ideas Project has producing educational units on Muslim cultures and history(ies) and offering workshops in the teacher training institutes of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It seeks to introduce a pluralistic approach to Muslim people, their cultures and histories in the German speaking school education, with a focus on history, ..... geography, civics, music and literature. In order to make sure that the project is based on accurate knowledge of Islam and Muslim cultures, an advisory committee consisting of a group of international scholars specializing in topics related to Muslims and Islam was created. Worksheets and teacher instructions were prepared in support of the units which can be put to use in the classroom. So far, 56 units have been published on the website 1001-ideas.eu and can be downloaded for free.

Aim: To encourage open discussions on the plurality and interconnectedness of traditions and modern cultural expressions, avoiding essentialist approaches towards Islam; to overcome imaginary boundaries and highlight the close relations and mutual dependencies between European and Muslim civilizations; to encourage youth to recognize the common features with other cultures.

Summary: Collection of educational cards grouped by topic dealing with basic elements to approach Islam knowledge and history as a reality of Muslim community in Spain. The different topics are presented through short interviews which are available at the website of the Fundacion Pluralismo y Convivencia in mp3 format. Along with every interview there is a methodological ..... proposal aimed at supporting teachers in their performance in the classroom. This collection of cards is a part of a wider repertory aimed at approaching religious pluralism to young people as one of the elements of the diversity that characterize our society.

Aim: In Fundacion Pluralismo y Convivencia we are aware of the existent ignorance about Islam and Muslim community and also of the fact that prejudices and stereotypes do not help social cohesion. With this collection of cards we invite educational community to think about religious pluralism in a wide scope and about the specific issues of Muslim beliefs through the required educational tools and resources.

Target group: Students of Compulsory Secondary Education (12-16 years old), teachers, young and adult individuals who participate in educational programmes in their spare time or in other fields.Keywords: Educational cards, Islam, Muslims, Spain

Summary: These are the first textbooks on Islamic religion published in Spanish: six textbooks on Islamic religious education along with teacher's books and with additional support material for the stage of Primary Education (6-12 years old). Each book includes 10 units with the following structure: 1) What do Muslims believe in? 2) What do Muslims do? 3) What ..... have I learned? 4) What should I know?

Aim: In 1996 Islamic religious education was officially observed in Spanish educational system. However, for several years the students of this subject had to study with books that had been published in other countries, and this fact has prevented Islamic education from being fully normalized as a religious faith within our society by itself. The collection "Descubrir el Islam" focuses on: -Normalizing Islamic religious education within Spanish educational system, -Providing the educational community with pedagogical tools that include an educational methodology similar to that of the other subjects - in Spanish and contextualized in Spanish society.

Summary: Culture of Tolerance (CoT) is an umbrella for a series of events and activities aimed at bringing students, parents and teachers together across ethnic, cultural and religious divides. Addressing religious differences is indirectly addressed in numerous events promoting tolerance and respect for diversity.

Aim: The purpose of CoT is to ensure ..... that all children in BiH enjoy equal educational opportunities regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or religion. Projects aim to provide different education stakeholders from divided or neighbouring mono-ethnic communities with improved understanding, knowledge and skills related to issues of dialogue, tolerance, communications, teamwork and diversity - either through explicit workshops on such themes or through joint work on a project or training of shared interest. Through this rather holistic approach CoT also addresses existing prejudices and prevents intolerance against Muslims as wellPeriod: 2008

Summary: ChangeTheStory.net offers an interactive experience where users can meet their neighbours, learn about Islam and apply techniques of interfaith dialogue and action to local communities.

Aim: ChangeTheStory.net aims to transform the narrative we carry of each other, Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Visitors will find tools and helpful information ..... for educators, religious leaders and individuals concerned about building bridges of understanding across lines of faith and culturePeriod: 15 September 2009

Summary: The factsheet gives a general introduction to the practices and initiatives in education that aim at combating intolerance against Muslims in Switzerland. Two case studies, the Maralam Theater: "Exploder" and the project of the NCBI Switzerland: "Minarets, veils and other questions - reducing discrimination against Muslims" give practical examples.

Aim:To ..... inform governmental units and civil society about the activities undertaken to combat intolerance, especially against Muslims and to sensitize various relevant actors and encourage them to engage each other.Period: 2009

Summary: The TE'A Project combines time-tested interactive theatre techniques with cutting edge breakthroughs in conflict resolution theory to promote the insights that people need to transform their conflicts with each other. Conflict arises when a person feels something they care about is being threatened by the decisions and actions of another. These feelings ..... of threat are meaningful, they drive the conflict, but their meaning is often not clear. The TE'A Project reveals the concealed side of conflict by dramatizing it on the stage and facilitating conversation about it after the performance.

The focus of the TE'A Project is "being Muslim (and non-Muslim) in America, post 9/11". The TE'A Company engages in conversation with members of America's multifaceted Muslim community to learn what difference the events of 9/11 have made in their lives, and what decisions they now find themselves making as a result. By means of a creative, collaborative, improvisational, work-shopping process, the TE'A Company develops the stories it collects and the insights it has gained into a powerful, high-quality, theatrical performance piece.

The Company performs the play for the communities from which the stories were collected. They also perform in schools, mosques, synagogues and churches, and at conferences, and at appropriate special events. After every performance, trained facilitators conduct a dialogue between the audience and the actors. These interactive sessions provide the opportunity for members of the audience to gain or confirm the insights that enable them cross the barriers of misunderstanding and mistrust that divide them from other members of the community.

Aim: The aim of the TE'A Project is 1) to recover the voices of individuals and groups who have been silenced and misunderstood because of their race, class, ethnicity, or religion; 2) to transform the hearts and imaginations of the young people involved in the TE'A Project; 3) to dramatize the dynamics of conflict in America's communities, especially the clash of cares and threats locking Muslims and non-Muslims into conflict with each other in the US in the wake of 9/11; 4) to trigger the insights into these cares and threats that individuals need to deconstruct the barriers of misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility that divide them from each other.